Yesterday at the water. Magic.
Alyssa // River Story
Tonight's story has left my soul stirred in the most brilliant of ways.
This woman. This river. All of it.
These songs of sisterhood match the frequency of my bones like nothing else.
Jessica // A River Story
Silence Between the Notes
I've had this as my email auto-response for this week, but I think it also belongs here...
"Music is the silence between the notes"
-Claude Debussy
I truly believe what sets me apart from the sea of other photographers is my ability to hear and capture stories that others miss. I teach international photography classes, and speak at conferences around the country, and truly, at the end of the day, the number one tool I encourage others to have is the ability to unplug, and just listen.
So often, though, in today's world, people live glued to their screens. For some, this works. But for me, it would be impossible to be the artist I am, and live in such a way.
In order to continue being the soul-filled storyteller that I am, I have to live a life filled with gorgeous mindfulness and awareness. Tucked in my Airstream in the woods, spending afternoons capturing snails at the lake with my little ones, or morning sunrise walks through path-less forests.
It may seem to have nothing to do with photography, but in truth, it is everything.
I promise that you and your email are important to me. I promise that I will sit down with my warm tea by the lake, and read your words and respond. It just might take a bit longer than someone who lives glued to their phone. My dedicated 'office' hours are Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and I answer all messages in the order they are received.
There are people in the industry who tell me I am crazy for running a successful business this way. They say I need to answer all messages within a few hours, and I understand where they are coming from. I do. But for me, the unplugged moments spent in deep and complete reverence of the world around me, are what make me, me. They foster my ability to hear the music between the notes. And I never want to lose that.
If you are looking for someone who is constantly going-going-going and lives on her computer day in and day out, I am not the girl for you. Thankfully, I believe there are no mistakes. That you reached out for a very beautiful reason. And, I am willing to bet, you're one of the ones who totally get it, too.
WILDlife
I've been getting a lot of questions about our travel/living plans lately so I thought I'd clear it up a bit. I think by now everyone knows we lived in an Airstream for a long time, and traveled the country, and then arrived in Austin and felt it was time to take a breather.
For a while, it seemed like we'd sell the camper and settle down in this desert city hugged by the Colorado River.
But.
I simply cannot/will not extinguish the wildfire inside of me. I long for hair that smells like campfire and hanging clothes to dry on tree branches after long after dark lake swims. I long for road trips with the windows down, getting lost entirely on purpose. I long for 25-feet of living space, all cramped in and cozy, on rainy mornings. I am not ready to 'settle down.'
So here's the scoop.
In 10 days we will travel with our beloved Airstream up to New England. We will be there, exploring, camping and shooting, all Spring + Summer.
Then, we will come back to our sweet little bungalow in downtown Austin, TX and focus on watering our roots: hockey practices and ballet recitals and catching lightning bugs in jam jars under the front yard oak.
For inquiries:
2014 is booked completely, with a few Austin openings in November.
I am booking weddings, and River Story sessions, for 2015 + 2016 in both locations.
Here's to answering the call of adventure, no matter what...
